It’s a Mod, Mod World

A tired 1980s house is transformed into a polished modern jewel.

Written & photographed by Graham Yelton

In 2008, Roshan and Farida climbed the steep driveway to a Hoover home and walked into a space filled with dated brass fixtures, wall-to-wall floral paper and floors covered with carpet. They fell in love.

Most buyers have a hard time looking past paint colors; however, without delay, the couple looked past the dated decor and directly out the window to the stunning skyline of never-ending green and blue. I guess you could call it love at first sight.

The couple spent almost 20 years living in Chicago and wanted a home that felt urban, modern and open. The layout and floor-to-ceiling windows fit the bill, but the rest needed work.

Within a year, the house was transformed from classic 1980s into the new millennium. Natural hardwood floors were revealed, wallpaper was stripped and every piece of brass was replaced with polished silver. Walls were painted a light gray with the exception of the foyer, where Roshan and Farida chose a brilliant, metallic blue with polished, black tile for the flooring. This statement sets the tone right from the start.

For this transformation, the couple found a few key pieces at Atmosphere Home Essentials in Pepper Place near downtown Birmingham, namely the curved wooden coffee table, green painting and patterned pillows. They also frequented I.O. Metro in Hoover for inspiration. Roshan scored a great deal on rugs and accessories at Home Goods and Z Gallerie. As for that jaw-dropping lighting, it was found in Atlanta, along with several sofas. Finally, the remaining pieces, like the Bubble and Barcelona chairs, were found online.

The end result is a bold yet comfortable space with clean lines and a modern retro vibe. Thankfully, there is no shortage of places to kick back, lounge and enjoy the view.

One can’t help but wonder if someone else might move in 30 years from now and replace the silver with brass and cover the walls with paper. ‘Tis the circle of decor-life. But I do know that Roshan and Farida are living in the moment and couldn’t be happier.